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Dean said Lemak sent him a letter and Gov. Robert Bentley informing them that he was stepping down for “health reasons.”

“Dr. Lemak has been ill for awhile – had surgery,” Dean said. “He hasn’t been able to attend a meeting since, I think, in September. Because of that, he felt it was best to step down.”

Lemak was the subject of a complaint filed with the Alabama Ethics Commission by a former ASU employee, alleging Lemak had violated the school’s bylaws when a nonprofit entity headed by his son took in more than $1.5 million from ASU in 2011 and 2012.

Lemak, through his attorney, denied any wrongdoing in that case, saying he had never voted on any matter involving the nonprofit National Center for Sports Safety and didn’t hold any position at the Center.

“This complaint is totally without merit,” Lemak attorney Robert Rosenberg said in early March. “Dr. Lemak is not compensated by (NCSS) in any way. He never solicited funds on behalf of (NCSS). He never attempted to influence any vote involving (NCSS) by the ASU board.”

Asked if the ethics complaint played any role in Lemak’s decision to leave the board, Dean said Thursday he didn’t know.

“All I can tell you for sure is what I know, what was in the letter,” Dean said. “He mentioned his health. Plus, Dr. Lemak is turning 70 in June, so he would’ve had to leave the board anyway at that point. It’s understandable.”

Attempts to reach Rosenberg and Lemak on Thursday were unsuccessful.

Jennifer Ardis, a spokesperson in Bentley’s office, said the governor would begin accepting the names of people who would like to fill Lemak’s spot and as well as recommendations from the community.

“As with all of our appointments, the governor likes to get recommendations from the community and give everyone an opportunity to be heard,” Ardis said.

Lemak’s departure will leave the ASU board down two members. Kathy Sawyer resigned her spot on the board in January following the tumultuous resignation of then-university president Joseph Silver.

Ardis said that while it’s important for the governor to fill the spots, he has no plans to rush the process.